Lost and Broken Things

by Linda Sandifer

Western Writers of America 2026 Spur Award for Best Traditional Novel

"Linda Sandifer has truly established herself as a remarkable voice in contemporary literature. With graceful skill, she weaves a story brimming with emotional depth and authentic characters. . .. The story made a lasting and heartfelt impression, and it will stay in the mind and heart long after finishing it."
--Midwest Book Review

"Full of emotional complexity . . . a quietly compelling historical novel that lingers with its characters, landscapes, and the tender question of what family and forgiveness truly mean."
--Readers' Favorite Reviews - 5/5 Stars

"An exceptionally fine story . . . an inspiring novel of depth. I loved Lost and Broken Things."
--Mary E. Trimble, Award-winning Author

Set amid the wild beauty of Idaho’s backcountry, a young shepherdess and her “brother” desperately try to fight the odds when their future collides with the past.

1929. Fourteen-year-old Lily Statton and eleven-year-old Davy think it’s going to be just another summer herding the family’s sheep in the mountains. But things take an unexpected turn when their adoptive ma goes missing, and Sheriff Jack Tanner gets involved in the search. Sympathizing with the children’s plight, Jack is drawn into their abused and neglected lives. With him comes Dr. Anne Blake, trying to heal their wounds as well as her own; and Jack’s mother Ellen, who keeps her secrets close but her arms open.

As Jack helps Lily uncover her ma’s buried secrets, they expose a stunning ten-year-old crime with a heartbreaking truth that will affect them all in ways they could not have imagined.

Lost and Broken Things explores the far-reaching consequences of selfish desire, and the role of happenstance, luck, and even the hand of God in the shaping of our lives. It is an unforgettable story of fierce loyalty, gut-wrenching choices, and the incredible power of love and family.

326 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 1, 2025

About the author

Linda Sandifer’s career has spanned many decades, producing four mainstream novels and ten western romances. Born and raised on a ranch in Idaho, her writing reflects her background and her love for the land and the indomitable people who settled the West. Her books have won numerous awards and have been translated into several languages throughout the world. Readers and reviewers alike have cited her intimate connection to the West, her strong sense of place, authentic characters, and her ability to touch the human spirit. Of her recent release, Lost and Broken Things, Midwest Book Review says, “Linda Sandifer has truly established herself as a remarkable voice in contemporary literature.”